The Melody Boys Quartet almost always include a song by Joe Roper on their projects. One of their most requested Roper songs is "Somewhere, Someday". This is a very difficult song to sing, for most groups cannot handle the lush harmonies and intricate vocal chord structures.

To my knowledge, only one other professional gospel quartet has attempted to record and release this song. Who is this fine quartet and what was the name of the project that included "Somewhere Someday"?

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It looks like this was a popular tune at one point in the Black Gospel genre. I keep coming up with Sam Cooke, either with or without the Soul Stirrers.

Can I ask a question without answering yours, JCB? While looking for the answer to who did "Somewhere Someday", and coming across a lot of Black Gospel artists, I ran across the tune "Jesus Gave Me Water"...now it's in my head and it won't go away. Who did that just recently?

Doyle Lawson and Quiksilver recorded an acapella version of this song on their "Rock My Soul" project way back in 1981 and it still gets a lot of air play. In fact they still sing this song quite frequently on their live performance. I don't know if this is the song you are looking for or not but you can go to their web site at http://www.doylelawson.com/discography.html and hear a short sample of the song to see if this is the one you are looking for.



:beach: 52 degrees here this morning in Central Florida and the shuttle didn't launch last night, although it was nice sitting out and looking over the water, even if I didn't get to see the launch

I don't know the answer to this, but someone has been watching a lot of those decorating shows on HGTV :rollinglaughing:


It got down to 4 degrees here in Southwest Missouri last night after a high yesterday of 22 and the snow and ice still ain't melted from last week. :dressed:

I have the Blue Ridge Quartet on an album "The Blue Ridge Quartet" singing it. Although it sounds fairly intricate, it doesn't seem quite so intricate as on the Melody Boys recordings. It doesn't sound very lush at all. Oh, this is Friday, so I leave it there. :smiley waving: :smacking:

Blue Ridge Quartet.

JC I don't know who recorded the song however Little Jimmy Taylor and The Campbells did it at Grand Ole Gospel Reunion a number of years ago..and they did an admirable job as well. It's on one of the GOGR videos but can't remember which one..

The Blue Ridge Quartet recorded it on their LP "He Bought My Soul". I think that LP was later released on Power Pak as "The Blue Ridge Quartet".

I was recently playing some GOGR videos and I remember the Campbells also singing "Somewhere Someday". Jimmy Taylor did a great job with that group and their harmonies.

When I listen to a song, I use myself as a yardstick: If I can't sing it or play it, then it's a good song! I can't sing or play "Somewhere, Someday"!

I'm not an outstanding musician, so if I can do it, then it can't be that hard!

Ya know, I'll bet the Trav'lers Quartet could do a great job with that song! ;)

I can't begin to tell you what I watch on Friday nights. However, I WILL say that pleated pants and horizontal stripes are not becoming to a man of my size and shape!

:rollinglaughing:

Since " Somewhere, Someday" is a very hard song to do, how many quartets from the past could actually do it. I counted about 10 at the most-- Plainsmen, Prophets, Imperials, Statesmen, Speers during some of the Harold Lane years, Weatherfords, Stamps with Donnie, Masters V, Oaks with Smitty, and maybe Gold City during their best years. Also some Cathedral groups. What do you think, John? Anymore?

Those early groups you mentioned maybe could do it. Not sure the Oaks could handle it even with Smitty.

I don't think there's a Cathedral group after Bobby Clark departed that could pull it off. I don't think the Masters V worked hard enough to do it. Stamps with Donnie, Ed, Bill, and Richard? Possibly. Gold City? Not a chance even at their finest.

Current groups?
Southern Sound could do it. So could the Trav'lers. That's about all of the current groups that could do it. Signature Sound? Nahh.

How about The Harvesters Quartet? I believe they were a solid group for many years, but when they recorded their album "God Is My Shepherd," the precision and blending were excellent, in my opinion. The problem is, I don't know anything, at least regarding what it would take to be able to properly perform or record the song in question. I just know that I have listened to gospel music for a long time, and I think that, for a period of time, they were up there on the level with the seven or so top groups that were listed. The Melody Boys with Jonathan Sawrie and Mike Franklin sounded pretty good to me singing it on the live recording celebrating 50 years. :huh: :)

Hidee Y'all,
John, thank you for the question about Joe, and one of his wonderful compositions! If it were not for people like yourself and those of us who read and respond to this Board, I'm afraid Joe would have been forgotten many years ago.
I agree with your analysis of who could do "Somehwhere, Someday" today. However, I'm pleased to announce that the current Melody Boys are once again able to do it again. It is truly amazing how many, many people (even vocalists) listen to this song on a recording and decide it is not very hard....until they actually try to do it themselves!!!! Joe was famous (or infamous) for this type of song!

The key to singing a song like this is to have a bass singer that can sing a SOLID baritone line. Typically the bass sings what the baritone would normally sing and the lead sings the "in the cracks" notes (The la's, the fa's and the ray's) producing that full, lush sound. Bass singers who can do it are scarce as hen's teeth. The best ever IMHO is Armond Morales. The Florida Boys with Gene McDonald could pull it off I'm sure. Not many groups today that can do it. The ability to sing stuff like that is what separates the men from the boys to me. Harold Gilley is another of the few who can do it and I'm sure The Trav'lers with Joel Duncan could do it. And I beg to differ with His Highness but the later Cathedrals could do it. Take a listen to their last acapella recordings. Again Younce could sing those higher harmonies and could also blend well.

Terry Blackwood was in a group called Friends 4. They did a lot of tight harmony arrangements. Big John Hall makes a guest appearance and they back him on "How Big is God" WOW! What a powerful performance! Superb singing!

It's 11:38 EST Dec. 11 2206. I'm listening to The "Magnificent" Melody Boys singing "Somewhere, Someday" on all-quartets-radio. Gerald Williams does a terrific job! Beautiful!